Tal Brody greets Quebec

Posted on June 21, 2016 at 2:25 pm

Author: Daniel Smajovits.
Photography: Maccabi Canada

With the ink still fresh on his passport, basketball legend and Goodwill Ambassador for the State of Israel Tal Brody found himself amongst longtime and cherished friends at the home of Leon Elfassy, as he began a whirlwind tour of Montreal last week.

Brody and his wife Tirtza were in Montreal as the guests of honor for Kollel Torah MiTzion’s (KTM) annual gala. The gala featured the premiere of the documentary On the Map, a film that chronicles the story of the 1976-1977 Maccabi Tel Aviv team, captained by Brody, which captured the European Championship.

His visit, which was organized by KTM and Maccabi Canada, not only allowed Brody to reconnect with the Montreal community, but also gave him the opportunity to reach out to a new generation of Maccabi athletes, volunteers and friends.

Over the course of his short trip we were able to hear first-hand his incredible story while spending time with one of the greatest Jewish athletes of all-time. In every encounter, Brody underlined the significance of the Maccabi movement to the Jewish community both in the diaspora and in Israel.

“It is clear why Tal Brody is the Goodwill Ambassador for the State of Israel,” said Mark Singer, Co-Chair of Maccabi Canada, Quebec region. “I have never met a more gracious individual, whom in every speaking opportunity ensured that the public knew that Maccabi was a transformative influence in his life and that the organization is a cornerstone of the Jewish community.”

In addition to an intimate cocktail hosted by Maccabi’s leadership in Quebec and the KTM Gala, his calendar also included an appearance as the guest referee for a Hebrew Academy student vs. staff basketball game. Bringing his own whistle from Israel, Brody officiated a friendly game that featured representatives from Maccabi/KTM and Hebrew Academy.

Capping off an incredible and meaningful visit, the Consul General of Israel in Montreal, Ziv Nevo Kulman, hosted a closing breakfast at his residence.

“We were so excited to be able to bring in Tal and Tirtza Brody, in honour of our Annual Film Gala, where we had a special screening of Dani Menkin’s “On The Map”. Tal spoke to our guests about the importance of each individual and the power that we each have, as well as the importance of sports in helping to bridge gaps,” said Chaviva Lifson, Executive Director of KTM Montreal. “We are so happy that Tal and Tirtza’s visit brought together several community organizations, all committed toward the goal of cooperation and love of Israel.”

Maccabi Canada would like to thank Kollel Torah MiTzion for inviting our organization to take part in this the opportunity as well as the Consul General of Israel in Montreal for their hospitality and ongoing support of Maccabi Canada.